By: Express News ServiceMumbai | January 15, 2026 01:23 PM IST 3 min readMaharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray alleged that the system was being misused to benefit the ruling Mahayuti alliance. (Express Photo by Akash Patil)As voting for the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election began on Thursday, Opposition leaders alleged that voters at several polling booths were being marked with markers instead of indelible ink, a charge denied by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.“People come out, wipe the ink, and go back inside to vote again. Then they come out, wipe it again and re-enter. Is this what the government calls development?” Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray asked, alleging that the system was being misused to benefit the ruling Mahayuti alliance.Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in Dadar, Raj Thackeray claimed that the mark on voters’ fingers could be wiped off with a sanitiser, making repeat voting possible. He accused the government and the election administration of turning a blind eye to such practices. “The entire system is working to ensure the victory of those in power. This is not how free and fair elections are conducted,” he said.Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said he too had received reports of ink being washed away. “This is shocking to me,” the former chief minister said.Maharashtra Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar also alleged that the marker used to apply ink on voters’ fingers was sub-standard and was easily wiped off.Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MLC Anil Parab and Yuva Sena leader Sainath Durge joined the chorus. “There is no need for sanitisers also; the ink can be wiped away without that too,” Parab said. Durge concurred, alleging that the ink on his hand was washed away. “I voted in the morning and reached home. When I washed my hands using Dettol, the ink washed away completely. I think this is a serious issue and raises the possibility of bogus voting. This is the reason why we have been speaking about it,” he said.Opposition parties said they had received similar complaints from booth-level workers and voters and demanded that the Election Commission look into the matter immediately. “Even a small lapse can damage people’s trust in the voting process,” an Opposition leader said.Opposition looking for excuses: FadnavisStory continues below this adChief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the allegations. “The Opposition has pre-empted their defeat and is looking for excuses in advance. It is wrong to level such allegations,” he said after casting his vote in Nagpur.BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani, however, said he has taken note of the concerns and instructed officials to use ink that adheres to the skin, and not just the nails, to ensure it cannot be wiped away.Meanwhile, Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat said it was true that the ink was being wiped away. “I think this is happening for the first time. It is true that the marker ink is being wiped away…Hence, not everywhere, but in some places, there is a possibility of bogus voting. I think poll officials should be vigilant,” he added.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Brihanmumbai Municipal CorporationMaharashtra